The New Nation - Internet Edition

BNP-Jammat cadres gone underground following election defeat

Our correspondent, Rajshahi

The cadres of Bangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP) and Jammat-e-Islami, who were very active across the district before the parliamentary poll, have gone into hiding following the stunning defeat of the Alliance.

It is learnt that after the landslide victory of the AL-led Grand Alliance, many of the former ministers, lawmakers, and leaders of BNP and its front organizations, Jammat-e-Islami and its student-wing Chattra Shibir members are not staying at their homes and most of them have gone into hiding because of their past terrorist activities.

It is leant that they are not attending their telephones, and they are not seen in the public.

Reportedly many of those were engaged in extortion and had link with terrorist activities have abandoned their homes and fled from their areas.

The BNP leaders, who resorted to unabated corruption, looting and terrorism are panicked after AL Chief Sheikh Hasina said crusade against corruption will continue.

One BNP leader demanding not to be named said although the emergency have gone, they are not feeling safe after the fiasco of BNP-Jammat alliance in the election.

The BNP-Jammat leaders, who contested the election and were defeated are not attending telephone calls.

Senior BNP leader advocate Kabir Hossain, who was defeated in the poll from Rajshahi-3 seat was not available for his comment. His telephone was found always busy.

Ataur rahman, District Jammat Amir, who also contested the election, was also not available by his telephone for his comment about fleeing homes by leaders and activists of the alliance. His men said Rahman was busy for which he does not attend telephone.

Former lawmaker and Mayor of Rajshahi Mizanur Rahman Minu was also not found by phone. His wife said Minu was sick and was in complete rest.

Ideals of Rokeya to be implemented for equal rights of womenfolk

BSS, Rangpur

Speakers at a discussion on Rokeya Day here on Sunday called for proper implementation of the ideals and philosophy of Begum Rokeya to establish equal rights of women.

Describing Begum Rokeya as a great philosopher and pioneer of women renaissance, they said that sustainable progress could not be achieved by keeping the womenfolk, constituting half of the population, behind the mainstream development process.

They said this while addressing a discussion meeting organised by Begum Rokeya Forum (BRF) on the occasion of various programmes chalked out in observance of the Rokeya Day on the Central Shaheed Minar premises in the city.

The programmes included drawing competitions, recitation of poems, quiz competitions, cultural functions and distribution of medals among two women Ranjina Saber and Hamida Sarker (posthumously) for their huge social contributions.

Chaired by president of BRF Begum Marhamatun Nesa, the discussion meeting was attended by Principal of Rangpur Government College Prof Sanjib Chowdhury and director of RDRS Imrul Kayes as the guests of honour.

Vice President of BRF Advocate MA Basher Tipu, its secretary A A Alamin, Programme manager of RRS Sabina Yasmin, members of BRF Mokhlesur Rahman and Prof Shamshad Begum Guinea also addressed.

The speakers recalled with great respect the outstanding contribution of Begum Rokeya to the field of women education, establishing women's rights and empowerment of women in the conservative society during the British rule. They said Begum Rokeya was the first woman in this region to realise that without ensuring light of education and rights of women, a society cannot achieve sustainable development, democracy and civilised status.

The speakers also called for making Pairaband a national and international-level centre with establishing a women's cadet college and a university after the name of Begum Rokeya to pay due homage to the memory of this great woman.

They also recalled with great respect Begum Rokeya's life-long contribution in women's education and her relentless efforts to place them in a dignified position in society.

Later, the guests distributed medals among two successful women. Prizes among the winners were also distributed among the winners of the competitions.

Orange production at Moulvibazar a cash crop

Our Correspondent, Moulvibazar

Orange cultivators could not imagine even in the year 2000 they would be able to marketing oranges produced in the forest areas of Moulvibazar, but now the fruit has turned as a main cash crop in the district.

In the past the orange plants, were used a fuel in areas and children used to play with some orange produced in the remote areas, most of the time as football.

But now the orange produced in the district has become one of the major cash crop and a stool of changing their lot.

Adulterated petrol being sold in Barguna

BSS, Banguna

Adulterated petrol is being sold in different filling stations in the district causing untold sufferings to owners of motor vehicles.

They alleged that a section of unscrupulous traders are making abnormal profit by mixing kerosene with petrol.

Sub-standard diesel also flooded markets in the district raising anxiety to the consumers, they said. Due to lack of monitoring system by the concerned authorities, the owners of vehicles in the district have become hostages of the dishonest fuel traders.

Adulterated petrol and sub-standard diesel are causing troubles to the motor vehicles and other machines.

The owners urged the authorities concerned to look into the matter and take immediate steps against the dishonest traders.

One slaughtered in Chuadanga

Our Correspondent, Chuadanga

One young man named Hanif (22) son of Motleb Sarder of village Baradi under Alamdanga upazila in Chuadanga district was killed at Kayetpara school area by miscreants on Saturday night.

The victim was kidnapped from his home on Saturday night and killed on the spot through cutting throat.

Local people recovered the dead body and sent to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital for postmortem. A case has been registered at Alamdanga Thana in this connection.

UZ Poll: Joypurhat 13 candidates withdraw nomination papers

BSS, Joypurhat

Thirteen candidates withdrew their nomination papers for the upcoming Upazila polls in five upazilas of the district on the last date of withdrawal on December 31, official sources said.

District Election Office (DEO) sources said those who withdrew their nomination papers were six chairman candidates, and four male vice chairman candidates and three female vice chairman candidates.

Earlier, the nomination papers of 25 out of total 108 candidates for Upazila polls in five upazilas of the district were cancelled.

ASC earns Tk 3,57 lakh in Jamalpur

BSS, Jamalpur

Agro Service Centre (ASC) has earned Tk. three lakh 57 thousand by selling vegetables and saplings in the district till December 2008.

The ASC, a wing of Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), has fixed a target of earning Tk. six lakh 50 thousand for the fiscal 2008-2009 by selling vegetables and saplings.

According to ASC office sources, the wing has brought seven acres under the cultivation programme of different vegetables and crops and raising saplings of timber and fruit bearing trees.

Arms, ammunition seized in C’nawabganj

BSS, Chapainawabganj

Members of Bangladesh Rifles, in a month long drives, recovered arms, ammunition, drugs and fertilizer from the district in December.

BDR sources said they recovered four arms, six magazines, 24 bullets, 5584 bottles of phensidyl, 143 bottles of Bangla wine and 9,783 kg of Indian fertilizer in separate drives from different places of the district.

31 contesting for 7 upazila chairmen posts in Satkhira

BSS, Satkhira

A total of 31 candidates are vying for the posts of chairmen, 27 for vice-chairmen and 28 for female vice-chairmen in seven upazilas of the district in the upcoming third upazila election to be held on January 22.

District Election Office sources said, a total of 121 candidates has filed nomination papers to contest the upazila elections.

Of them 34 candidates have withdrawn their nomination papers and 87 candidates are now in the election race. Symbols were also distributed among the candidates.

In Sadar Upazila three candidates are contesting for the post of chairman, three for vice-chairman and four for female vice chairman post. In Tala upazila eight candidates are vying for chairman, five for vice-chariman and three for female vice-chairman post.

In Kolaroa upazila four candidates are contesting for chairman, five for vice-chairman and four for female vice- chairman post.

In Assasuni upazila two persons are contesting for chairman post, four for vice-chairman and four for female vice- chairman post.

In Debhata four candidates are contesting for chairman and two each for mate and female vice- chairmen posts.

In Kaliganj four candidates are contesting for chairman, three for vice-chairman and four for woman vice-chairman post while in Shyamnagar upazila seven candidates are vying for chairman, five for vice- chairman and seven for female vice- chairman post.

District election officer Bibhor Kumer told BSS that the preparatory works for holding the upazila polls in a free, fair and credible manner are progressing.

A total of 537 presiding officers, 2,905 assistant presiding officers and 5,810 polling officers have been appointed for conducting elections in seven upazilas, he added.

News briefs

Anwarul Iqbal visits Darsana

CHUADANGA, Jan 5: LGRD and Cooperatives Adviser Anwarul Iqbal on Friday visited Darsana and laid the foundation stone of Memnagar BD Secondary School auditorium under Damurhuda upazila in the district on Friday. The auditorium will be constructed at a cost of Taka 50 lakh. The adviser also visited the on going construction works of 500-seated public auditorium being constructed on the premises of Darsana Dakbanglo under the same upazila. The auditorium is being constructed at a cost of Taka 1.05 crore. Both the schemes are being implemented by the Chuadanga district council. Deputy Commissioner Mokhlesur Rahman, Police Super Morshed Alam, Managing Director of Darsana Sugar Mills M Shahidullah, among others, were present. The LGRD advisor also declared a donation of Taka 10 lakh for the development of Darsana Girls School, reports BSS.

Body recovered

KALIGANJ, Lalmonirhat, Jan 4: Police recovered a body from Dighir Par area under Kaliganj Upazila in Lalmonirhat district on Saturday, Police sources said. Sources said some people found a body at the point in the morning and informed the matter to Kaliganj police station. Being informed, a police team rushed to the spot, recovered the body and sent it for autopsy to Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital. The dead was identified as Tulu Sheikh, 45, son of late Khoka Sheikh of village Fakir Para in the upazila, reports UNB.

Bomb recovered in Jessore

JESSORE, Jan 4: Police recovered a hand-bomb from TB Clinic Road in the town on Friday in a abandoned condition. Acting on a tip-off, the Kotowali Model thana police recovered the bomb from in front of one Shohel Mia's house on the road, reports BSS.

24 held, ganja seized in Joypurhat

JOYPURHAT, Jan 4: Police, in separate drives, arrested 24 persons including suspected criminals on various charges from different places in five upazilas of the district during the last 48 hours, till Friday Morning. Police sources said the arrested persons were absconding warrantees, cheats, accused persons in different cases, drug peddlers and other anti-social elements. Police also recovered ganja and other illegal objects during the drives. The arrested persons were sent to jail hajat before police produced them different Courts here, the sources said, reports BSS.

One killed, 11 hurt in Naogaon clash

DHAMOIRHAT, Jan 5:

One person was killed in a clash between two rival groups following catching fishes in a disputed pond in village Kashibari under Dhamoirhat upazila of Naogaon district on Wednesday. Police on Saturday said the clash ensued when one group started catching fishes in the pond and the other attacked them. As a result, Nurul Islam, 32, of the village was killed on the spot. Later, police recovered the body and sent it for autopsy to Naogaon Sadar Hospital, reports BSS.